How to Use the Hand Cannon
Tides of Fortune Hand Cannon guide — Grapeshot ammo, close-quarters deck combat, knockback mechanics, crafting, and naval boarding defense tactics.
Hand Cannon Overview
The Hand Cannon is Tides of Fortune's signature personal weapon — a brutal single-shot firearm loaded with Grapeshot ammunition. Patch 89.25 introduced it as a close-quarters deck-clearing tool. Patch 91.6 increased Hand Cannon damage by 300% and reduced Grapeshot crafting costs, making it a definitive boarding defense weapon that delivers massive knockback and forcibly launches enemies overboard.
Unlike ranged rifles, the Hand Cannon excels at point-blank naval combat. When enemy players board your Sloop or Brigantine, a well-timed shot sends them into the water. Against wild creatures during Ocean Outpost raids, knockback creates breathing room for reloads.
Unlock the Hand Cannon and Grapeshot through Tides of Fortune engrams. Both require Bob's True Tales DLC ownership.
Crafting and Ammunition
Craft the Hand Cannon at a smithy after unlocking its engram through Genesis Part 1 milestone progression. Grapeshot ammo is crafted separately — stock at least 20 rounds before any naval engagement or outpost raid.
Grapeshot behaves differently from standard bullets. It fires a spread pattern optimized for close range, trading accuracy at distance for devastating impact within boarding distance. Carry Grapeshot in your hotbar alongside repair kits and medical supplies.
Specialist ship ammunition (Incendiary, Corrosive, Reinforced Cannonballs) handles hull damage. The Hand Cannon handles personnel — assign one crew member as dedicated deck fighter while others man cannons.
Combat Techniques
Position at the boarding ramp or deck center where enemies converge during ship-to-ship contact. Wait until boarders are within maximum knockback range before firing — premature shots waste ammo on distant targets.
The knockback effect launches targets off the deck into the water. In PvP, this forces swimmers vulnerable to cannon fire. In PvE, knocked creatures must re-board, buying time for cannon volleys and repairs.
Pair with naval combat tactics: while the deck fighter clears boarders, the captain maintains broadside positioning and the gunnery crew fires cannons. Practice this three-role coordination in friendly drills before PvP.
Platform Controls
PC players aim with mouse and fire with left-click. Quick-switch to Hand Cannon via hotbar during boarding alerts. Console players map the weapon to weapon wheel slots for fast access during chaotic deck fights.
Review PC controls, Xbox controls, or PlayStation controls for platform-specific aim assist behavior. Console aim assist helps track boarding enemies but reduces effective range — stay close.
When to Use vs Cannons
Cannons handle hull damage and ship-to-ship engagements at range. The Hand Cannon handles boarders, deck creatures, and close-quarters PvP during boarding actions. Never substitute Hand Cannon for cannon fire against enemy vessels.
During Ocean Outpost fortress raids, switch to Hand Cannon for interior phases after the Brigantine suppresses outer defenses. Tight corridors and boarding actions favor the knockback shotgun pattern over rifles.
Solo captains on Sloops benefit most from Hand Cannon proficiency. Without crew to man cannons during boarding, your personal weapon is the last defense. Invest in Grapeshot stockpiles and practice reload timing.